5 February 1997 Edition
Arrogant dismissal
David Trimble's reply to Gerry Adams's recent letter to him was disappointing, particularly the arrogant dismissal of the rights of nationalists.
In his open letter published in Wednesday's Irish Times David Trimble set out a number of ludicrous preconditions before he will agree to meet Sinn Féin. These include that Sinn Féin must accept the Unionist veto; the Heads of Agreement Document as a basis for negotiations; and that there will be a Six County assembly and a `Council of the Islands'. He also resurrects the decommissioning issue as a precondition.
Trimble's letter undermines the purpose of the talks process. This is about negotiating from each other's opposing standpoints. If Sinn Féin were to accept David Trimble's preconditions there would not be much point in having a meeting with the Ulster Unionist Party.
It is untrue for Trimble to say that Sinn Féin has refused to engage in Strand One of the talks. Sinn Féin has been prepared to discuss all issues in the context of its analysis and the party's peace strategy. Sinn Féin's opposition to a Six County assembly has been cynically misrepresented as non-engagement in Strand One. Opposition is not non-engagement. Indeed, Sinn Féin asked those who support an assembly to outline their reasons and they failed to adequately do so.
Sinn Féin has good reasons for opposing an assembly. 75 years of unionist abuse of power is one. All Ireland institutions which are subordinate to a Six County assembly will be unable to create the dynamic required for a durable democratic settlement. An internal Six County settlement is not a solution to the conflict. A Six County assembly would institutionalise the unionist veto.
Despite this Sinn Féin has been prepared to discuss an assembly on the basis that no item should be excluded from the agenda. There are other issues to be discussed in Strand One. These include the issues of equality, justice, policing and political prisoners. These are issues which affect people's daily lives and Sinn Féin looks forward to discussing them in the weeks ahead.
The families of all of the victims of Bloody Sunday, the people of Derry and all those in Ireland and abroad who have campaigned for the truth to be told about the massacre of the innocents in Derry in January 1972 are to be congratulated on the announcement of a full and independent judicial inquiry into the events of that awful day. It was their hard work and dedication in keeping the issue in the public eye and on the political agenda which finally led to the British government decision.
It is essential that the independence of the Inquiry is established beyond doubt. There must be no repeat of the Widgery whitewash which merely served the interests of the British state by attempting to cover up its culpability in Bloody Sunday.
The Inquiry must be thoroughgoing and get to the full truth of what happened on Bloody Sunday.
Any attempt to issue Public Interest Immunity certificates in order to prevent the public from knowing the whole truth must be resisted. The whole truth behind Bloody Sunday must finally be told.
In his open letter published in Wednesday's Irish Times David Trimble set out a number of ludicrous preconditions before he will agree to meet Sinn Féin. These include that Sinn Féin must accept the Unionist veto; the Heads of Agreement Document as a basis for negotiations; and that there will be a Six County assembly and a `Council of the Islands'. He also resurrects the decommissioning issue as a precondition.
Trimble's letter undermines the purpose of the talks process. This is about negotiating from each other's opposing standpoints. If Sinn Féin were to accept David Trimble's preconditions there would not be much point in having a meeting with the Ulster Unionist Party.
It is untrue for Trimble to say that Sinn Féin has refused to engage in Strand One of the talks. Sinn Féin has been prepared to discuss all issues in the context of its analysis and the party's peace strategy. Sinn Féin's opposition to a Six County assembly has been cynically misrepresented as non-engagement in Strand One. Opposition is not non-engagement. Indeed, Sinn Féin asked those who support an assembly to outline their reasons and they failed to adequately do so.
Sinn Féin has good reasons for opposing an assembly. 75 years of unionist abuse of power is one. All Ireland institutions which are subordinate to a Six County assembly will be unable to create the dynamic required for a durable democratic settlement. An internal Six County settlement is not a solution to the conflict. A Six County assembly would institutionalise the unionist veto.
Despite this Sinn Féin has been prepared to discuss an assembly on the basis that no item should be excluded from the agenda. There are other issues to be discussed in Strand One. These include the issues of equality, justice, policing and political prisoners. These are issues which affect people's daily lives and Sinn Féin looks forward to discussing them in the weeks ahead.
Bloody Sunday - the truth must be told
The families of all of the victims of Bloody Sunday, the people of Derry and all those in Ireland and abroad who have campaigned for the truth to be told about the massacre of the innocents in Derry in January 1972 are to be congratulated on the announcement of a full and independent judicial inquiry into the events of that awful day. It was their hard work and dedication in keeping the issue in the public eye and on the political agenda which finally led to the British government decision.
It is essential that the independence of the Inquiry is established beyond doubt. There must be no repeat of the Widgery whitewash which merely served the interests of the British state by attempting to cover up its culpability in Bloody Sunday.
The Inquiry must be thoroughgoing and get to the full truth of what happened on Bloody Sunday.
Any attempt to issue Public Interest Immunity certificates in order to prevent the public from knowing the whole truth must be resisted. The whole truth behind Bloody Sunday must finally be told.